USC notebook: Spurrier second guesses late-game decision

USC head coach Steve Spurrier takes two timeouts and still decides to punt on fourth-and-2 play with 2:48 remaining in Saturday's 23-21 loss to Tennessee in Knoxville, Tenn.

By MATT CONNOLLYmatthew.connolly@shj.com

KNOXVILLE, Tenn. — With South Carolina clinging to a 1-point lead and facing a fourth-and-2 from its own 26 with 2:55 remaining in the game, USC coach Steve Spurrier had a decision to make on whether to go for it or punt.Spurrier sent his offense onto the field but called timeout before the ball was snapped. After talking it over, USC once again appeared set to go for it but ultimately called another timeout.Spurrier finally elected to punt and Tennessee took over from its own 35 with 2:48 remaining. The Volunteers drove to the 2-yard line and kicked a 19-yard field goal as time expired for the win, leaving Spurrier questioning his decision making down the stretch.“Hindsight we should have gone for it. Looking back I always tell myself to go for those,” he said. “We were thinking about going for it. We went up there and if it looked good we were thinking about going for it. The second time they actually changed their defense.”USC running back Mike Davis, who finished with 132 rushing yards in the game, was hoping his coach would take a chance late.“My mindset was let's go for it, let's get it,” he said. “Whatever the coaches call you know I'm all for it. On fourth-and-2 if the coaches want to punt it that's what we have to go for.”

CLOWNEY MAKES A STATEMENT: South Carolina star defensive end Jadeveon Clowney has been arguably the most scrutinized player in college football so far this year, but he quieted many of his critics Saturday afternoon with an impressive performance at Tennessee.Clowney was constantly in Tennessee's backfield, finishing with 2.5 tackles for loss. He had another tackle for loss wiped away by a penalty and wreaked havoc throughout the game.Going up against Tennessee tackle Tiny Richardson, who is expected to be a first-round pick in next April's NFL Draft, Clowney played his most complete game of the season.“That's the way JD has played all season, Tennessee just felt like they could block him with one guy,” USC defensive coordinator Lorenzo Ward said. “I thought he played great. I thought he played on their side of the ball a lot.”Clowney said he enjoyed the opportunity to face just one blocker on many plays.“I just told him if you're going to block me one-on-one you're going to pay for it,” Clowney said. “I kept beating him inside.”Clowney said he felt like his play against Tennessee was very similar to how he has played all year.“I feel like I'm active every game,” he said. “Even though I ain't making plays I'm still out there moving, causing double teams and triple teams and still doing the same thing.”QUESTIONABLE FUMBLE CALLS: South Carolina recovered two apparent fumbles in the game but was not awarded either.When USC quarterback Connor Shaw fumbled a snap in the first quarter, players from both teams dove on the pile. A USC player emerged from the pile with ball but officials huddled and ruled that a Tennessee player originally had the ball before having it jerked away.Just before the half, Tennessee running back Rajion Neal was hit in the backfield by Clowney and the ball fell to the ground. The Gamecocks emerged from the pile with the ball but the officials huddled and said Neal was trying to pass the ball. The play was ruled an incomplete pass and Tennessee retained possession.Spurrier said the rulings were a first for him.“I've never seen that happen. We came out of the pile with two of those fumbles that we didn't get,” he said. “Usually the guy that comes out of the pile gets it but I guess whoever falls on it first gets it now.”Clowney said from his vantage point the play just before the half should have been ruled a fumble.“That was a fumble, hands down,” he said. “I don't know what the refs were looking at but it's a fumble. He made a bad call, makes good calls some games. You never want to leave it in the refs hands anyway.”QUICK NOTES: Former Byrnes star Corey Miller started at defensive end and was a captain for Tennessee. Miller finished the game tied for third on the team with five tackles. South Carolina had won three straight against Tennessee prior to Saturday's game.Shaw moved into seventh all-time in passing yards for USC, passing Bobby Fuller and Tommy Suggs. The senior has thrown for 4,934 yards in his career.Damiere Byrd set a career high with 121 receiving yards, recording his first 100-yard receiving game of his career.Byrd's previous high was 98 yards two weeks ago against Kentucky. He has recorded a touchdown catch in three straight games.

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